The former Curtis bowler -- who helped the Warriors to four of their seven straight PSAL city championships -- didn't expect to continue her career on the lanes after leaving high school. But a chance encounter with St. Francis bowling coach Dawn Gugliaro changed all that.

"I was walking out of (Rab's Country Lanes) and she was walking in," said Petosa. "I saw her looking at me like she knew me and I was thinking, 'Who is this lady?' It was pretty funny."

The coach introduced herself and told Petosa she had kept an eye on her career at Curtis and made the pitch for the Terriers program. Petosa took that opportunity, but it wasn't successful from the start.

St. Francis dropped softball as a varsity sport and added women's bowling, so the program was a new one that had more than its share of growing pains.

"It was tough losing time after time after time (a winless and sub-.500 season marked Petosa's first two years), especially coming from Curtis where we won all four years. There were times when I wanted to go outside and throw my bowling balls down in the middle of the street," said Petosa, whose squad is now 10-2 coming off a big weekend at the first NEC Tournament of the season where they beat 5 of 7 conference teams.

"Now, I'm happy all the time. This weekend I wasn't on my A game at all and we won."

The Terriers have ascended to the No. 19 ranking in the country this season and have their eyes focused on NEC and ECAC Championships.

And why not? Even their two losses this season were close, falling to perennial powers New Jersey City by 15 pins and Kutztown (Pa.) by eight. And much of it has to do with the influx of talent, including New Dorp alum Alyson Piergiovanni, a two-time Advance All Star and the Island's average leader last year.

"For us to have six recruits," said Petosa. "That is a major miracle. It's huge for us."

It took just four years for St. Francis to go from doormat to contender and, even with the growing pains, Petosa and the Terriers have enjoyed the journey.

"I didn't even think I was good enough to bowl on the college level," she said. "And now, me and Alexandra (Stein a senior out of Lincoln) were talking about how we were in on the ground floor of it. We're happy to be part of the beginning of the program."